Shura (musician)

Shura
Birth name Aleksandra Lilah Yakunina-Denton
Born 17th June
Manchester, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • synthesizer
Years active 2011–present
Labels Polydor
Website weareshura.com

Aleksandra Lilah Yakunina-Denton,[1][2][3] better known by her stage name Shura, is an English singer, songwriter and producer.

Life and career

Shura grew up in Manchester. Her mother is a Russian actress and her father is an English documentary filmmaker.[4] She has two brothers, one of whom is her twin.[5] She began playing the guitar when she was 13 years old and started recording music at 16.[6][7] While reading English Literature at University College London,[8] she formed a band with guitarist Patrick Duncombe and collaborated with producer Hiatus (Cyrus Shahrad), who remixed Shura's 2011 debut single "River".[7] Shura features on six tracks on Hiatus's 2013 album Parklands, including "River" and the singles "Fortune's Fool", "Iran Air" and "We Can Be Ghosts Now". Shura took a gap year after her university studies and developed her songwriting skills while working in the Amazon rainforest.[9]

Following her work with Hiatus, Shura decided to assume creative control over the production of her music. During night shifts at her workplace (a video editing facility), she watched YouTube tutorial videos on how to use music production software.[9][10] Her single "Touch", co-produced with Joel Pott of Athlete, drew positive notice from internet blogs during early 2014; its music video was directed and edited by Shura herself.[4][9][11] Two other singles, "Just Once" and "Indecision", followed the same year, and Shura produced a remix of Jessie Ware's single "Say You Love Me".[12][13][14][15] Shura was longlisted in the BBC Sound of 2015 poll, and her debut album Nothing's Real is due for release in 8 July 2016 via Polydor Records.[16][17] Shura is also signed to Universal Music Publishing Group in the United Kingdom.[18] She released the single "2Shy" in March 2015, followed by "White Light" and a performance film titled Three Years in June 2015.[19][20][21] An EP titled White Light was released in the United States in July.[22] The same year, Shura performed at music festivals including Bestival, Festival N°6, and Latitude.[21]

In December 2014 she was named as one of the nominated acts on the longlist for the BBC music poll Sound of 2015.[23] Mumford & Sons have covered her song "2Shy".[24]

Shura's 'Touch' was released on 18 February 2016 alongside a version featuring Talib Kweli.[25] The Demo Version is set to be released on Record Store Day 2016 as a limited 12" single featuring remixes from Canvas and Delorean.[26]

Artistry

Shura's musical influences include Blood Orange, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, J Dilla, Drake, Peter Gabriel, Haim, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Elton John, Madonna, Massive Attack, Pink Floyd, Pixies, Portishead, Prince, Diana Ross, Ed Rush, Patrice Rushen, Raphael Saadiq, KT Tunstall, and Tina Turner.[4][5][9][10][27]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details
Nothing's Real
  • Released: 8 July 2016
  • Label: Polydor
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download

Extended plays

Singles

Featured singles

References

  1. ↑ The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, record for 'Touch', Work ID 886607565
  2. ↑ http://www.creaturemag.com/tag/aleksandra-lilah-yakunina-denton/
  3. ↑ http://heyevent.com/event/4dr5pkjgcp4qka/young-writers-anthology-launch-partyopen-mic-night
  4. 1 2 3 Cragg, Michael (11 November 2014). "Meet Shura, Electro-Pop’s Downy New Poster Girl". The Fader. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  5. 1 2 Hambro, Maya (25 November 2014). "Shura: "I’m more of a monogamous songwriter"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Madden, Josh (19 February 2014). "shura "touch"". Nylon Guys. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  7. 1 2 Wood, Betty (17 June 2011). "Introducing: Shura". Creaturemag. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  8. ↑ http://www.unipaper.co.uk/article/national/features/sep_2015/shura--uni-does-get-better--take-it-from-me
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Get To Know: Shura". Hunger TV. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  10. 1 2 Vincent, Alice (5 November 2014). "Shura - New Music". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Hillyard, Kim (9 September 2014). "Next Wave #597: Shura". Clash. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  12. ↑ Lester, Paul (18 August 2014). "The playlist – new bands: Jagaara, Movement and Shura". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Dombal, Ryan (22 July 2014). "Shura: "Just Once"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  14. ↑ Geslani, Michelle (14 October 2014). "Shura shares gorgeous synthpop song "Indecision" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  15. ↑ Breihan, Tom (22 August 2014). "Jessie Ware – "Say You Love Me (Shura Remix)"". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  16. ↑ Hunt, El (9 December 2014). "It’s a Shura thing: "My boobs, licensed to Polydor"". DIY. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  17. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3pBLZF6Z1XgLKJWH7Y6J0wF/shura
  18. ↑ http://www.umusicpub.co.uk/en-GB/Artists/S/Shura.aspx
  19. ↑ Hunt, El (9 March 2015). "Shura - 2Shy". DIY. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  20. ↑ White, Caitlin (3 June 2015). "Shura – "White Light"". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  21. 1 2 Milton, Jamie (10 June 2015). "Shura shares ‘Three Years’ short film". DIY. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  22. ↑ Thomas, Russell (7 July 2015). "Shura announces White Light EP". The 405. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  23. ↑ "BBC Music Sound Of 2015 longlist revealed". BBC News. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  24. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/02/soak-bridie-monds-watson
  25. ↑ "Shura new album | Talib Kweli Touch remixes | Nothing's Real". Never Enough Notes. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  26. ↑ "Shura". recordstoreday.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  27. ↑ Thompson, James F. (September 2014). "Interview: Shura". Loud and Quiet. Retrieved 8 January 2016.

External links

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